Posts Tagged ‘zunzuneo’

Newscast Media WASHINGTON—The AP news agency has reported that the US tried
to undermine Cuba’s government with a social media website called ZunZuneo. Expert
William LeoGrande says that US credibility in the region has now been damaged.

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) clandestinely developed
ZunZuneo, which was similar to Twitter, in order to incite flash mobs at sensitive
political moments in an effort to force democratic change in Havana.

At its height, ZunZuneo had 40,000 users in Cuba, who were unaware of the US
government’s involvement. Realizing that the US role would eventually be discovered,
those involved in the operation sought to find independent financing for ZunZuneo.
Unable to secure a private sector sponsor, they shut the social media site down in
2012 when government financing dried up.

According to The Guardian, White House press secretary denied any involvement of
the White House with the program.

“It was a development-assistance program,” Carney said, adding: “I am not aware of
individuals here in the White House who were involved.” He also said the program was
subject to congressional oversight.

Carney denied suggestions the program was “under the table” or had “roped in”
unsuspecting Cubans.

The president of Venezuela has already pointed to this incident as proof that the
unrest in his country is being fomented by the United States. This operation in Cuba
gives other governments the perfect excuse to blame internal problems on USAID and
the United States government.